Home Office appeal over Palestine Action ban legal challenge to be heard

The Home Office’s appeal against a High Court ruling which allowed Palestine Action’s co-founder to proceed with a legal challenge against the Government over the group’s ban as a terror organisation is set to be heard.

Huda Ammori is taking legal action against the department over then-home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws, which made membership of, or support for, the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

In July, Mr Justice Chamberlain gave Ms Ammori the green light to proceed with her claim after finding that two arguments put forward on her behalf were “reasonably arguable”.

The case is due to be heard at a three-day hearing in November but the Home Office has been given the green light to challenge Mr Justice Chamberlain’s decision.

The department’s appeal is now due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Thursday.

Ms Cooper announced plans to ban Palestine Action days after the group claimed responsibility for an action in which two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton on June 20.

Speaking on June 23, she said that the vandalism of the two planes, which police said caused an estimated £7 million of damage, was “disgraceful”.

Ms Ammori then lost a High Court bid to temporarily block the ban from coming into effect in early July.

The Court of Appeal then dismissed a bid to appeal against that decision less than two hours before the proscription came into force on July 5.

But following a hearing on July 21, Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled on July 30 that Ms Ammori could proceed with her legal challenge, finding that it was arguable that the proscription “amounts to a disproportionate interference” of her rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

The judge continued that a second argument, that Ms Cooper failed to consult Palestine Action “in breach of natural justice”, could also go to a full hearing.

Thursday’s appeal before the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Lord Justice Lewis and Lord Justice Edis is due to begin at 10.30am.